A man from O'Fallon, Missouri, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for child sex charges. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk handed down the sentence on Friday to Andrew Haller, aged 34, who was involved in sexual activity with a 15-year-old he met online and engaged in discussions of a sexual nature with another minor.
Haller initially contacted two 15-year-old girls through Tumblr before transitioning their conversations to Telegram, an encrypted messaging app. The California victim reported Haller's activities to the FBI in October 2023, revealing that he was abusing another teenager and had imposed strict rules on her. These included requiring permission for basic actions like urination and addressing him by titles such as “Sir,” “Dad,” or “Daddy.” He also solicited nude photos from her and shared images of the other victim.
Following a court-approved search of Haller's home in November 2023, the FBI identified the second victim. She disclosed meeting Haller twice in person during 2023 and engaging in sexual acts under duress. Haller physically assaulted her during their first encounter and documented these interactions through pictures and videos. He also expressed a desire to abuse very young children incapable of remembering the abuse.
In a letter submitted to the court, this second victim described how Haller manipulated her trust by feigning mental illness similar to hers before imposing controlling demands upon her, including carving his initial into her thigh. "He wanted me to have kids so he could abuse them," she stated.
Haller was found in possession of 195 images and 92 videos depicting known or suspected child sexual abuse material, which he distributed via Telegram and Signal.
In October, Haller pleaded guilty to multiple charges: two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of receipt of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local levels.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood initiatives or resources available for victims, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
